Intraoral Sensing and Communications Appliance

ABSTRACT

Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer-readable media for communicating via an electronic device for use in a mouth environment of an animal and resistant to damage from bodily fluids and pressure. The device can be anchored to a tooth or a teeth of the mandible, or implanted in (or attached to an implant in) the maxilla or mandible. The device includes: a power device, which can power the apparatus, a memory storage device, which can store and recall data; a communications subsystem, which communicates with one or more remote devices; an output device, which creates stimulus directly or indirectly observable in the mouth environment; an input device, which can create signals according to activity in the mouth environment and can send them to the memory storage device and/or processor; and a processor coupled to the memory storage device, the communication subsystem, the output device and the input device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Non-provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 13/831,940 filed Mar. 15, 2013, and entitled“Intraoral Processing and Communications Device,” and U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/612,398 filed Mar. 19, 2012, and entitled“Intraoral Processing and Communications Device,” which are incorporatedby reference herein in their entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Aspects of the disclosure relate to computing technologies. Inparticular, aspects of the disclosure relate to mobile computing devicetechnologies, such as systems, methods, apparatuses, andcomputer-readable media of oral or intraoral computing andcommunications technology.

In anatomy, the area known as “the mouth” is a nexus of biologicalprocesses, and can be capable of great sensation, dexterity, andcommunication-abilities that could be used for fine control,interaction, and exchange of information. However, its harsh, dynamicand vulnerable environment makes presenting a user interface to, andmaintaining direct, prolonged access to the abilities and perspective ofthe mouth a difficulty.

Mouth-activated communications devices and orally-disposed controllerscan be connected to and used to control such devices as wheelchairs,computers, and text-to-speech devices, and the like. This communicationtypically happens through a wired connection. These mouth-activatedcommunications devices are limiting in their ability to connect withoutcumbersome wires. These mouth-activated communications devices are alsolimiting in their ability to be integrated with and used as part of aneveryday life and/or lifestyle, as they block and/or hinder normal bodyfunctions and operation such as eating, talking, breathing, etc. Thesedevices are also limiting in that they engage and/or occupy the user'stongue outside the range of its normal activities in actions for input.Mouth-activated communications devices are also limiting in that theyare not based on the tongue, so they can't make use of thetongue-centric perspective, data, and/or capabilities (like the abilityto track motions of the tongue from the perspective of the tongue (suchas orientation during speech) and the input that can be gathered fromthis perspective, the shape-changing abilities of the tongue around apiercing, the range of sensory and control capabilities of the fulltongue (as opposed to just the tip of the tongue) the dexterity of thetongue (such as rotation, curling, etc.), and/or the ability of thetongue to be split into two independently mobile halves), can't becombined in multiple instances on the tongue and/or other areas of themouth.

Orally-disposed communications devices and mouth-activated controllerscan often be linked to other devices, however their functionality isusually limited to sending data to these other devices for control orlogging purposes, wherein no feedback or dynamic oral user interface iscommunicated to or communicates with the wearer. These orally-disposedcommunications devices and mouth-activated controllers are limiting intheir lack of delivery of feedback of a user interface or informationabout the controlled device to the user. Accordingly, further advancesin intraoral processing and communications devices have been needed.

Embodiments of the invention help solve these and other problems.

SUMMARY

The invention is a mobile processing and communications device, that canbe wielded directly from the mouth. A user, wielding the device from themouth, can observe the device's dynamic oral user interface, and, usingthis interface, can control the device and/or wirelessly communicatewith other devices.

An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to an electronic devicehaving an apparatus which includes a housing for use in a mouthenvironment of an animal and resistant to damage from bodily fluids andpressure. The housing can be pierced through a tongue, a lip, or acheek, anchored to a tooth or a teeth of the mandible, or implanted in(or attached to an implant in) the maxilla or mandible. The housingincludes: a power device, which can power the apparatus, a memorystorage device, which can store and recall data; a communicationssubsystem, which communicates with one or more remote devices; an outputdevice, which creates stimulus directly or indirectly observable in themouth environment; an input device, which can create signals accordingto activity in the mouth environment and can send them to the memorystorage device and/or processor; and a processor coupled to the memorystorage device, the communication subsystem, the output device and theinput device. An advantage of the present invention is that it is moreeffective in harnessing the communicative power of the tongue thancurrent inventions.

The housing can be one or more of a piercing jewelry, a piercing stud, amandible retainer, a mandible bridge, a dental implant and an attachableto a dental implant. The piercing jewelry can be a barbell shape. Thepiercing jewelry housing is advantageous because it allows the user towield the device from and/or with the tongue; this allows the devicegreater contact with the dexterity and perceptive power of the tongue,as well as locating it within a nexus of life processes. The mandibleretainer and/or bridge is advantageous because it allows the user towield the device from the lower jaw with the tongue in a relaxed,forward position (instead of reaching up into the maxilla). The dentalimplant housing is advantageous as it can be put in place for manyyears, perhaps permanently, and (if replacing a tooth) takes up no extraroom in the mouth environment. The dental implant housing is alsoadvantageous because it allows stimulation of deeper gum tissue.

The electronic device further includes a power device deriving powerfrom one or more of energy of an internal battery, wireless energytransfer, energy from chemical or electrical reactions with thesurrounding mouth environment, energy from chemical reactions with theblood of the user, energy from the physical flow of the bloodstream ofthe user, and kinetic energy of the motion of the animal.

The electronic device can further include a communications device thatcan be one or more of an EMF transmitter/receiver device, a RadioFrequency Identification (RFID) tag, a Bluetooth device, a WiFi device,and a cellular device.

The electronic device can further include an output device that can beone or more of a mechanical wave generator device, an electricalstimulator device, a vibration device, and a physical release device.

The electronic device can further include an input device that can beone or more of a touch sensor device, a material sensor device, apressure sensor device, a movement tracking sensor device, anorientation sensor device, an acceleration sensor device, a temperaturesensor device, an air sensor device, and a light sensor device.

The electronic device can further include a memory storage device thatcan include one or more application programs.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure relates to an electronicdevice having an apparatus including a housing inside the mouth of ananimal and resistant to damage from bodily fluids and pressure. Thehousing can be one of a tongue piercing, a lip piercing, and a cheekpiercing. The housing can further include: a power device for poweringthe apparatus; a processor communicatively coupled to an output device,input device, memory storage device, and communications subsystem. Theoutput device can generate one or more stimuli in the mouth environment.The input device can create signals associated with the analog input inthe mouth. The memory storage device can be communicatively coupled tothe processor for storing and recalling data. The communicationssubsystem can communicate with one or more remote devices. The housingcan include a piercing jewelry of barbell shape. The barbell shape isadvantageous because it allows the housing to stay in the tongue butstill to rotate in its piercing site.

The electronic device can further includes a power device which canderive power from the energy of an internal battery.

The electronic device can further include a communications device whichcan include an EMF transmitter/receiver device.

The electronic device can further include an output device includes oneor more of a mechanical wave generator device, an electrical stimulatordevice, a vibration device, and a physical release device.

The electronic device can further include an input device which caninclude one or more of a touch sensor device, a pressure sensor device,a movement tracking sensor device, an orientation sensor device, anacceleration sensor device, a temperature sensor device, an air sensordevice, and a light sensor device.

The electronic device can further include a memory storage device thatcan include one or more application programs.

An exemplary method for communicating includes generating a stimulus toa tongue of a user to communicate a user interface to the user,detecting an analog input from an environment of the tongue of the user;and interpreting the analog input from the environment as one or moreuser commands.

In certain embodiments the stimulus can be generated using atongue-pierced device.

In certain embodiments the stimulus can be generated using a deviceanchored to a tooth or a teeth of the mandible.

In certain embodiments the stimulus can be generated using a deviceimplanted in (or attached to an implant in) the maxilla or mandible.

In certain embodiments the stimulus can be generated by one or more ofcreating vibration, causing electric shocks from electrodes, anddispensing matter.

In certain embodiments the analog input can be detected from one or moreof sensing touch, orientation, acceleration, pressure, and sound at theenvironment of the tongue.

In an example non-transitory computer readable storage medium, whereinthe non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprisesinstructions executable by a processor, the instructions comprisinginstructions to generate a stimulus to a tongue of a user to communicatea user interface to the user, detect an analog input from an environmentof the tongue of the user, and interpret the analog input from theenvironment as one or more user commands.

In one implementation of the non-transitory computer readable storagemedium the stimulus can be generated using a tongue-pierced device.

In another implementation of the non-transitory computer readablestorage medium the stimulus can be generated using a device anchored toa tooth or a teeth of the mandible.

In another implementation of the non-transitory computer readablestorage medium the stimulus can be generated using a device implanted in(or attached to an implant in) the maxilla or mandible.

In another implementation of the non-transitory computer readablestorage medium the stimulus can be generated by one or more of creatingvibration, causing electric shocks from electrodes, and dispensingmatter.

In another implementation of the non-transitory computer readablestorage medium the analog input can be detected from one or more ofsensing touch, orientation, acceleration, pressure, and sound at theenvironment of the tongue.

An example device or apparatus for communicating includes means forgenerating a stimulus to a tongue of a user to communicate a userinterface to the user, means for detecting an analog input from anenvironment of the tongue of the user, and means for interpreting theanalog input from the environment as one or more user commands.

In certain embodiments the device or apparatus can include means forgenerating the stimulus using a tongue-pierced device.

In certain embodiments the device or apparatus can include means forgenerating the stimulus using a device anchored to a tooth or a teeth ofthe mandible.

In certain embodiments the device or apparatus can include means forgenerating the stimulus using a device implanted in (or attached to animplant in) the maxilla or mandible.

In certain embodiments the device or apparatus can include means forgenerating the stimulus by causing vibration, causing electric shocksfrom electrodes, and dispensing matter.

In certain embodiments the device or apparatus can include means fordetecting the analog input from one or more of sensing touch,orientation, acceleration, pressure, and sound at the environment of thetongue.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of examples according to the disclosure in order for thedetailed description that follows to be better understood. Additionalfeatures and advantages will be described hereinafter. The conceptionand specific examples disclosed can be readily utilized as a basis formodifying or designing other structures for carrying out the samepurposes of the present disclosure. Such equivalent constructions do notdepart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Features whichare believed to be characteristic of the concepts disclosed herein, bothas to their organization and method of operation, together withassociated advantages, will be better understood from the followingdescription when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.Each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration anddescription only and not as a definition of the limits of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description is provided with reference to the drawings,where like reference numerals are used to refer to like elementsthroughout. While various details of one or more techniques aredescribed herein, other techniques are also possible. In some instances,well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form inorder to facilitate describing various techniques.

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of examplesprovided by the disclosure can be realized by reference to the remainingportions of the specification and the drawings, wherein like referencenumerals are used throughout the several drawings to refer to similarcomponents. In some instances, a sub-label may be associated with areference numeral to denote one of multiple similar components.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary device in which one or more aspects ofthe disclosure may be implemented,

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the device, abarbell-shaped stud that can be worn embedded in or pierced throughmouth tissue.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cross section of a human head, showingthe positioning of the device as embodied in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tooth-implant embodiment of thedevice.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the teeth, gums and tongue of a humanmouth, showing the position of the device as embodied in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a dental bridge embodiment of thedevice.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cross section of a human head, showingthe positioning of the device as embodied in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of the general method of communicating used bysome embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary network of devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein withreference to the drawing figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary device incorporating parts of the deviceemployed in practicing embodiments of the invention. An exemplary deviceas illustrated in FIG. 1 may be incorporated as part of the describedcomputerized device below. For example, device 100 can represent some ofthe components of a mobile device. A mobile device may be any computingdevice with an input sensory unit, like a touchpad, and an output unit,like a speaker. Examples of a mobile device include, but are not limitedto, video game consoles, tablets, smart phones, camera devices and anyother portable devices suitable for performing embodiments of theinvention. FIG. 1 provides a schematic illustration of one embodiment ofa device 100 that can perform the methods provided by various otherembodiments, as described herein, and/or can function as the hostdevice, a remote kiosk/terminal, a point-of-sale device, a mobiledevice, a set-top box and/or a device. FIG. 1 is meant only to provide ageneralized illustration of various components, any or all of which maybe utilized as appropriate. FIG. 1, therefore, broadly illustrates howindividual system elements may be implemented in a relatively separatedor relatively more integrated manner. FIG. 1 is an exemplary portableprocessing device or mobile device that may use components as describedin reference to FIG. 1. In some embodiments, only some of the componentsdescribed in FIG. 1 are implemented and enabled to perform embodimentsof the invention. For example, a touchpad device may have one or moretouchpads, storage, or processing components along with other componentsdescribed in FIG. 1.

The device 100 is shown comprising hardware elements that can beelectrically coupled via a bus 105 (or may otherwise be incommunication, as appropriate). The hardware elements may include, butare not limited to, one or more power devices 160, including withoutlimitation one or more power storage and/or distribution devices (suchas a battery) and/or one or more power generation, storage, anddistribution devices (such as a combination of power generator, powermanagement device, and a battery). In other embodiments, power and/ordata might be distributed via one or more separate buses, or acombination of buses, and/or individual components of device 100 mighthave independent or external power device(s) 160. The hardware elementsmay include, but are not limited to, one or more processors 110,including without limitation one or more general-purpose processorsand/or one or more special-purpose processors (such as digital signalprocessing chips, graphics acceleration processors, random numbergenerator and logic for cryptography, and/or the like). The hardwareelements may also include one or more signal-creating input devices 115which can sense analog input. One or more input devices 115 can includewithout limitation a touchpad, sensors, sensor devices (exemplary sensordevices discussed in figures and later paragraphs), a microphone, apushbutton, a gyroscope, and/or an accelerometer and/or the like. Forexample, a microphone might sense the analog input of sound. Thehardware elements may also include one or more output devices 120, whichcan produce a stimulus to a subject and/or environment and can includewithout limitation a vibration device, a light device, an electric-shockand/or electrode-array device, devices (exemplary devices discussed infigures and later paragraphs), and/or the like. For example, anelectrode-array device might produce a stimulus of an electric shock toa person it might be touching. In addition, hardware elements may alsoinclude without limitation one or more cameras 150, as shown in FIG. 1,for acquiring image content.

In other embodiments one or more input devices 115 can include, withoutlimitation: movement tracking sensor devices such as an LED/photo-diodetracking device (as found in an optical mouse) and/or more advancedvisual-tracking devices, which can be used to observe and reportmovement information; pressure sensor devices (like a microphone device,piezoelectric devices, and/or an air pressure sensor device), which canbe used to observe and report pressure change information such as sound,vocalizations, breathing or physical stress changes; temperature sensordevices (like a thermometer device), which can be used to observe andreport body heat, respiration temperature, external temperature, generaltemperature, or other temperature information; touch sensor devices(like button devices, switch devices, slider devices, bite pressuredevices, piezoelectric devices optical touch devices, rotation sensordevices, optical movement tracking devices and touchpad devices), whichcan be used to observe and report direct physical interaction andmovement information and even indirect physical interaction and movementinformation; air sensor devices (like machine olfaction devices, gasflow monitor devices, and/or chemical identification devices), which canbe used to observe and report breathing, temperature, humidity,pressure, gas flow, gas state, and air quality information; materialsensor devices (like machine taste devices, chemical sensor devices,salinity sensor devices, blood analysis devices and/or pH sensordevices), which can be used to observe and report chemical makeupinformation or other physical characteristics of breath, food, saliva,bodily fluids and/or organs; light sensor devices (like photodiodedevices, infrared light sensor devices, light meter devices and/orcamera devices), which can be used to observe and report light,distance, thickness, color and movement information; acceleration sensordevices (like an accelerometer or a pedometer device) which can be usedto observe and report velocity and/or acceleration change and movementforce information; and orientation sensor devices (like a compassdevice, or a digital gyroscope device), which can be used to observe andreport orientation and movement information.

In other embodiments one or more stimulus and/or output devices 120 caninclude, without limitation: electrical stimulator devices (likeelectrode devices, electrode-array devices, and/or shock devices), whichcan be used to communicate to or stimulate the user and/or others byapplying electric current via electrodes to the surrounding environment(such as to the surface of the tongue, to the interior of the mouth, orto and/or into the tissue of an embedding site); light devices (likeindicator light devices, infrared light devices, or laser light or laserpointer devices), which can be used to communicate to the user or othersand/or illuminate by creating visible, infrared and/or ultraviolet lightand/or light beams (and projected beams can be used as pointing devicesor projector displays by the user); tactile, actuator, or touch-basedvibration devices (like vibration motor devices, and Braille terminaldevices), which can be used to communicate to the user or others bycreating vibration based feedback and tactile or touchable states;physical release devices (like metered chemical release devices (whichcould release chemicals), spray devices, dispenser devices, or pilldispenser devices), which can be used to release matter to communicateto and/or or stimulate the user and others by releasing or dispensingmatter into the surrounding environment; and mechanical wave generatordevices (like speaker devices and/or vibration devices and/orbone-conduction transducer devices), which can be used to communicate tothe user and others by creating sound and other mechanical waves.

In other embodiments one or more power devices 160 could reside apartfrom the rest of device 100, including, without limitation, outside anyprimary enclosure, in a separate enclosure, and/or connected by a tetherand/or power transfer device. In other embodiments power may begenerated by one or more power devices 160 from, including, withoutlimitation, interaction with the chemicals in the internal and/orexternal environment (such as electrical interaction as in a battery, byusing an exposed anode and cathode), and/or interaction with thechemicals and/or pressure of the bloodstream of the user, and/orinteraction with the external environment and/or functioning oforganisms and/or one or more devices hosted within the device (such aswith a genetically-engineered biofuel device and/or biofuel organismthat generates power from oxygen and glucose in the bloodstream of awearer), and/or interaction with temperature differences in the externalenvironment (such as by coupling a generator with a Stirling engine orother heat engine), and/or by movement (such as by coupling a generatorwith a self-winding mechanism of the type as used in a self-windingwatch and/or capturing the energy of actions performed on device 100),and/or by wireless energy transfer (such as by direct induction,resonant magnetic induction or electromagnetic power reception devices(such as RFID tags)).

The device 100 may further include without limitation (and/or be incommunication with) one or more non-transitory storage devices 125,which can comprise, without limitation, local and/or network accessiblestorage, and/or can include, without limitation, a hard drive, a drivearray, an optical storage device, a solid-state storage device such as arandom access memory (“RAM”) and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), whichcan be programmable, flash-updateable and/or the like. Such storagedevices may be configured to implement any appropriate data storage,including, without limitation, various file systems, databasestructures, and/or the like.

The device 100 might also include without limitation one or morecommunications subsystems 130, which can include without limitation anetwork communications device (wireless and/or wired), an infraredcommunication device, an optical communications device, a wirelesscommunication device and/or chipset (such as a Bluetooth® device, anRFID device (active, passive, or battery-assisted passive), an 802.11device, a WiFi device, a WiMax device, cellular communicationfacilities), any kind of signaling circuitry or communications device,including any kind of EMF transmitter/receiver device (which may,without limitation, transmit, receive, both transmit and receive,reflect and/or alter an outside transmission, and the like) a wirelesscommunications device, and/or the like. Bluetooth is a proprietary openwireless technology standard for wirelessly exchanging data, and RFID,Radio-frequency identification, is a wireless non-contact technologythat uses radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data.Communications subsystem 130 could include, without limitation, one ormore antenna devices to broadcast and receive electromagnetic signals.Communications subsystem 130 may permit data to be exchanged with anexternal and/or remote device (such as a mobile device) and/or network,other devices, and/or any other devices described herein. As describedherein, the term “external device” and “remote device” may be usedinterchangeably, without limiting the scope of the disclosure. Forexample, the external device discussed above may be the same device asthe remote device 930 discussed in FIG. 9.

In many embodiments, the device 100 will further comprise anon-transitory working memory 135, which can include a RAM or ROMdevice, as described above.

Other devices that communications subsystem 130 may permit data to beexchanged with include without limitation other and/or similarembodiments of the invention in and/or on and/or throughout the body ofthe wearer, and/or in and/or on and/or the body or bodies of one or moreother wearers of such devices.

The device 100 also can comprise software elements, shown as beingcurrently located within the working memory 135, including an operatingsystem 140, device drivers, executable libraries, and/or other code,such as one or more programs or application(s) 145, which may comprisecomputer programs provided by various embodiments, and/or may bedesigned to implement methods, and/or configure systems, provided byother embodiments, as described herein. Merely by way of example, one ormore procedures described with respect to the method(s) discussed abovemight be implemented as code and/or instructions executable by acomputer (and/or a processor within a computer); in an aspect, then,such code and/or instructions can be used to configure and/or adapt ageneral purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or moreoperations in accordance with the described methods.

A set of these instructions and/or code might be stored on acomputer-readable storage medium, such as the storage device(s) 125described above. In some cases, the storage medium might be incorporatedwithin a device, such as device 100. In other embodiments, the storagemedium might be separate from a device (e.g., a removable medium, suchas a compact disc), and/or provided in an installation package, suchthat the storage medium can be used to program, configure and/or adapt ageneral purpose computer with the instructions/code stored thereon.These instructions might take the form of executable code, which can beexecutable by the device 100 and/or might take the form of source and/orinstallable code, which, upon compilation and/or installation on thedevice 100 (e.g., using any of a variety of generally availablecompilers, installation programs, compression/decompression utilities,etc.), then takes the form of executable code.

Substantial variations may be made in accordance with specificrequirements. For example, customized hardware might also be used,and/or particular elements might be implemented in hardware, software(including portable software, such as applets, etc.), or both. Further,connection to other computing devices such as network input/outputdevices may be employed.

Some embodiments may employ a device (such as the device 100) to performmethods in accordance with the disclosure. For example, some or all ofthe procedures of the described methods may be performed by the device100 in response to processor 110 executing one or more sequences of oneor more instructions (which might be incorporated into the operatingsystem 140 and/or other code, such as an application 145) contained inthe working memory 135. Such instructions may be read into the workingmemory 135 from another computer-readable medium, such as one or more ofthe storage device(s) 125. Merely by way of example, execution of thesequences of instructions contained in the working memory 135 mightcause the processor(s) 110 to perform one or more procedures of themethods described herein.

The terms “machine-readable medium” and “computer-readable medium.” asused herein, may refer to any article of manufacture or medium thatparticipates in providing data that causes a machine to operate in aspecific fashion. In an embodiment implemented using the device 100,various computer-readable media might be involved in providinginstructions/code to processor(s) 110 for execution and/or might be usedto store and/or carry such instructions/code (e.g., as signals). In manyimplementations, a computer-readable medium is a physical and/ortangible storage medium and/or memory storage device. Such a medium maytake many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media,volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media may includewithout limitation optical and/or magnetic and/or solid state drives,such as the storage device(s) 125. Volatile media include, withoutlimitation, dynamic memory, such as the working memory 135. “Computerreadable medium,” “storage medium,” and other terms used herein do notrefer to transitory propagating signals. Common forms of physical and/ortangible computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, aflexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, a solid state memory device, orany other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical medium,punchcards, papertape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes,a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, or any other memory chip orcartridge.

Various forms of computer-readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequences of one or more instructions to the processor(s) 110for execution. Merely by way of example, the instructions may initiallybe carried on a magnetic disk and/or a solid state memory device and/oroptical disc of a remote computer.

The communications subsystem 130 (and/or components thereof) generallywill receive the signals, and the bus 105 then might carry the signals(and/or the data, instructions, etc. carried by the signals) to theworking memory 135, from which the processor(s) 110 retrieves andexecutes the instructions. The instructions received by the workingmemory 135 may optionally be stored on a non-transitory storage device125 either before or after execution by the processor(s) 110.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention as a perspective viewof a barbell-shaped jewelry or stud. The stud can include withoutlimitation barbell-shaped enclosure 201, which can be capable ofresisting deformation under repeated physical stress. Examples ofmaterials barbell-shaped enclosure 201 could be comprised of include,but are not limited to, metal, plastic, glass, composites, and/or othermaterials and/or combinations of these materials. In this embodiment,barbell-shaped enclosure 201 may be the shape of a cylinder joininglarger-diameter spherical shapes at either end along the long centeraxis, and may be of appropriate size to pierce through a lip and/ortongue of a mouth, and/or other size. In alternate embodiments,barbell-shaped enclosure 201 might have different shapes and/or sizes,including without limitation disk-shaped and/or asymmetrically-shapedends instead of spherical ends, a larger and/or smaller size, anasymmetrical shape, a longer or shorter cylinder and/or other shapesand/or sizes. In other embodiments, barbell-shaped enclosure 201 mightbe shaped to grip or contact surfaces of the mouth in other ways, suchas one or more oblong end shapes instead of spherical ends to alloweasier rotation of the ends and/or the device, and/or one or more styluspoint ends for writing and/or doing finer movements. This embodiment maybe implemented using one or more components as described in FIG. 1and/or in previous paragraphs. In this embodiment of the invention,touch sensor device 205, a pressure sensor device 250, signal light 240,and an electrical stimulator device 210 fit into the surface ofbarbell-shaped enclosure 201. In this embodiment of the invention, arotation sensor device 215 bisects the cylinder, allowing for a twistingand/or rotating 216 of the ends of the device along the long center axisand compression sensor device 221, which allows the housing acompression (and/or expansion) 220 (the motion might also be used togenerate power for power device 160), fits into the surface ofbarbell-shaped enclosure 201. In other embodiments of the invention,these devices might be differently-located, omitted, and/or duplicatedat multiple locations, such as having an instance of touch sensor device205 at both ends of the device, having rotation sensor device 215 closerto one of the ends of the cylinder section of barbell-shaped enclosure201, or other differences.

In this embodiment of the invention, processor 110 can be a smallArduino-compatible microcontroller, and communications subsystem 130 canbe a Bluetooth radio device with antenna.

In this embodiment of the invention, working memory 135 can be aflash-memory integrated circuit.

In this embodiment of the invention, multiple one or more input devices115 can be: touch sensor device 205, a touchpad sensor; rotation sensordevice 215, a rotation sensor; compression sensor device 221, acompression-sensing sensor; pressure sensor device 250, a microphonesensor, and two internal accelerometer and/or gyroscope sensor devices(one in each end of the device).

In this embodiment of the invention, power device 160 can be a battery.

In this embodiment of the invention, one or more output devices 120 are:electrical stimulator device 210, an electrical stimulator with two ormore electrodes; signal light 240, an LED light; and two internalmechanical wave generator devices (one in each end of the device),vibration-producing devices.

In this embodiment of the invention, storage device 125 can be aflash-memory integrated circuit.

In this embodiment of the invention, operating system 140 can be machinecode that can be read by processor 110 and can guide the functioning ofdevice 100.

In this embodiment of the invention, application 145 can be code thatcan be read by processor 110 and can guide additional functioning ofdevice 100.

Using communications subsystem 130, the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIG. 2 might be in communication with remote devicesand/or similar devices, including, but not limited to other devices inand/or on and/or near the body of the wearer (such as a head-mounteddisplay device, a wrist-mounted display device, a pacemaker device, aninsulin pump device, a mobile device, a network device, a wirelessdevice, and/or a home automation device), and/or remote devices, and/ornetworks of devices, and/or devices. Merely by way of example, device100 might allow the wearer, by interacting with one or more inputdevices 115, to communicate to a remote device such as a head-mountedvisual display device to control a cursor or change a selectionpresented in the visual display device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cross section of a head (in this casea human head), showing one possible position of device 350 (the devicedescribed in FIG. 2 and preceding paragraphs).

In FIG. 3, device 350 can be anchored through and/or in one or morepierced site(s) 340 around and/or in an oral cavity 310 of the wearer,through and/or in a tongue 320. In this embodiment the wearer is ahuman, but in other embodiments and/or usages, the wearer might be anykind of animal. In other embodiments and/or usages, positioning ofdevice 350 might be in and/or through one or more pierced sites 340 inand/or through one or more other locations and/or one or moreorientations around and/or in and/or through and/or under the tissuesurrounding and/or near oral cavity 310 (such as through a lip), and/oranywhere around and/or in and/or through and/or within the body and/orform of a user. Tongue 320 (and/or other tissues of the mouth and/orbody) could have one or more pierced sites 340 and/or one or more one ormore devices 350 and/or other embodiments of the invention.

Oral cavity 310 and/or tongue 320 could also have multiple one or morepierced sites 340 and/or multiple one or more devices 350 and/or otherdevices.

Using communications subsystem 130, device 350 might be in communicationwith remote devices and/or similar devices, including, but not limitedto other devices in and/or on and/or near the body of the wearer (suchas a head-mounted display device, a wrist-mounted display device, apacemaker device, an insulin pump device, a mobile device, a networkdevice, a wireless device, and/or a home automation device), and/orremote devices, and/or networks of devices, and/or devices. Merely byway of example, device 350 might allow the wearer, by interacting withone or more input devices 115, to control a cursor or change a selectionpresented in the visual display of a separate head-mounted displaydevice and/or provide feedback to the environment of oral cavity 310about the remote action in the remote device in the form of a vibratoryor haptic vibration within device 350.

In one embodiment, the barbell-shape of barbell-shaped enclosure 201 maybe advantageous since it houses and protects the device and resistsdeformation under physical stress and keeps the device in pierced site340.

In this embodiment of the invention, from pierced site 340, the inputdevices 115 of device 350 might observe tongue 320, the tissues of themouth, and/or the environment of oral cavity 310 (and/or beyond): touchsensor device 205, a touchpad sensor device, can sense touch (as device350 moves with tongue 320 and comes in contact with mouth tissues (suchas the gums, teeth, lips, floor of the mouth, upper palate, and thelike) and/or other objects and/or devices); rotation sensor device 215,a rotation sensor device, can sense rotation of the ends the device(this could be accomplished using the tongue or other tissues of themouth, or by the fingers, reaching into or up to the mouth, and could,merely by way of example, be used as an on/off switch for the device);compression sensor device 221, a compression-sensing sensor device, cansense compression (and/or expansion) 220 (and compression sensor device221 can be returned to its resting state by a spring, or the like) ofthe cylinder of device 350 (such as by flattening and/or fattening oftongue 320, and/or by pressing or pulling on the ends of device 350 inother ways); pressure sensor device 250, a microphone sensor device, cansense sound, such as vocalisations and/or sub-vocalisations, breathing,and other sounds that come into oral cavity 310; and two internalaccelerometer and/or gyroscope sensor devices (one in each end of thedevice), orientation and/or acceleration sensor devices, can sense theorientation and/or acceleration of device 350 (which can be affected byactions of pierced site 340, and/or tongue 320).

In this embodiment of the invention, tongue 320, the tissues of themouth, and/or the environment of oral cavity 310 (and/or beyond) mightalso observe device 350, including output devices 120 of device 350:electrical stimulator device 210 can create sensation via electriccurrent; signal light 240 can create light and light beams; and the twointernal mechanical wave generator devices (one in each end of thedevice), can create vibration and/or vibration differentials and/or oneor more stereo vibration fields and/or haptic fields and/or patterns.

In this embodiment of the invention, the dexterity, and/or communicationabilities of the mouth can now be used for, among other things, finecontrol, interaction, and exchange of information to and/or from and/orthrough device 350.

Using one or more input devices 115, some embodiments of the inventionmight observe and act on analog input from the environment of the mouthand/or entering the environment of the mouth, such as a material sensordevice being used to monitor and/or analyze and/or report blood chemicallevels, gas levels in the breath, and/or chemical makeup of foodingested of and/or by the user.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tooth-implant shaped enclosure,according to another embodiment of the present invention. Tooth implantshaped enclosure 401 may be implemented using one or more components asdescribed in FIG. 1 and/or in previous paragraphs.

In this embodiment, tooth implant shaped enclosure 401 has atooth-shaped enclosure 410 of ceramic or other material that houses andprotects the device. Tooth-shaped enclosure 410 looks similar to a toothor teeth. In other embodiments, tooth-shaped enclosure 410 might mimic,partially mimic, and/or not mimic other structures, and/or have adifferent shape and/or shapes.

Tooth-shaped enclosure 410 may house touch sensor device 420 (atouch-sensing device, such as a touchpad, which can wrap around toothshaped enclosure 410), rotation sensor device 430 (that can sensetwisting or rotating 440), compression sensor device 460 (that can sensecompression (and expansion) 470), electrical stimulator device 450, andmay have tooth implant anchor 480, which may also have anchor electricalstimulator device 490. In other embodiments, tooth implant shapedenclosure 401 might lack tooth implant anchor 480, and, instead connectto an external tooth implant via an implant connection socket.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view inside a mouth, with teeth (including tooth530), upper gums/maxilla 510, lower gums/mandible 550 and tongue 540,with upper gums/maxilla 510 hidden to show the full teeth. FIG. 5 showsthe device, as embodied in FIG. 4, worn in one possible tooth implantlocation 520 in the upper gums/maxilla 510. This embodiment may beimplemented using one or more components as described in FIG. 1 and/orin previous paragraphs.

In this embodiment of the device, one or more input devices 115 mayinclude without limitation: one or more touch sensor devices 420 (builtinto the surface of the housing) that responds to touch input and/or cancreate ‘mouse’-type positioning, tap, pressure, coverage and/ortouch-related data; compression sensor device 460 inside the housingthat responds to compression (and expansion) 470 along the length of thehousing; a rotation sensor device 430 in the housing that can sensetwisting or rotating 440 the two ends of the device; a pressure sensordevice 435 that responds to air pressure; and one or more internalaccelerometer and/or gyroscope sensor devices, orientation and/oracceleration sensor devices that can sense the orientation and/oracceleration of tooth implant shaped enclosure 401.

In this embodiment of the device, one or more output devices 120 mayinclude without limitation: a mechanical wave generator device that canbe a vibration device and/or or a speaker device (a vibration devicecreates vibration in the device using a vibration motor device or othervibration-causing device, a speaker device creates sound waves from thedevice by creating movement using a speaker or other movement-creatingdevice); signal light 415, a light device (a light device can displayone or more lights and/or beams of light) that displays a light; anelectrical stimulator device 450 that can create sensation in the wearervia electric shocks from electrodes, and/or anchor electrical stimulatordevice 490, that can create sensation in the wearer via electric shocksfrom electrodes. The actions of the output devices 120 can be perceivedby the user and/or others.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the teeth, gums and tongue of a humanmouth, showing the position of the device as embodied in FIG. 4. Thisembodiment may be implemented using one or more components as describedin FIG. 1 and/or in previous paragraphs. In this embodiment of theinvention, the device can be worn in a user's mouth, such as in FIG. 5,embedded in upper gums/maxilla 501, or lower gums/mandible 550 by thetitanium (or other, suitable material) threads of tooth implant anchor480. In this placement of the device, one or more input devices 115(such as touch sensor device 420, compression sensor device 460,rotation sensor device 430, pressure sensor device 435, and the internalaccelerometer and/or gyroscope sensor device) can be manipulated by thetongue 540, lips, other parts of the mouth and/or by other means (suchas movement of the head or jaw).

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a dental bridge-shaped enclosure,according to an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment maybe implemented using one or more components as described in FIG. 1and/or in previous paragraphs. The dental bridge-shaped enclosureincludes without limitation bridge enclosure 601 of metal, pyrex,plastic, or other material or materials that houses and protects thedevice. Bridge enclosure 601 can be affixed to the teeth of the mandiblevia regular bridge attachment methods or as part of a dental retainer,such as a Hawley retainer.

Bridge enclosure 601 can allow one or more input devices 115 to observethe environment around the device and one or more output devices 120 toact (directly or indirectly) on the environment around bridge enclosure601, while sealing and protecting device 100 from damage.

In this embodiment of the invention, one or more input devices 115 mayinclude: a touch sensor device 650 (built into the surface of thehousing) that can respond to touch input and/or can create ‘mouse’-typepositioning, tap, pressure, coverage and/or touch-related data; acompression sensor device 620 inside the housing; a compression switch630; a pressure sensor device 660 that can respond to air pressure, anda internal accelerometer and/or gyroscope sensor device, orientationand/or acceleration sensor devices that can sense the orientation and/oracceleration of bridge enclosure 601.

In this embodiment of the invention, one or more output devices 120 mayinclude, but are not limited to: a mechanical wave generator device thatcan create vibrations from a vibration motor device; a light device thatcan display a signal light 640; and a shock device that creates smallelectric shocks from an electrodes of electrical stimulator device 645,arrayed on the surface of the device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cross section of a human head, cutaway to show the oral cavity 710, the tongue 720, and the device 740, asembodied in FIG. 6, worn in one possible location, affixed to the teethof mandible 750 in the orientation as indicated by lines 7-7 in FIG. 6.This embodiment may be implemented using one or more components asdescribed in FIG. 1 and/or in previous paragraphs.

In this embodiment, the device can be worn in a user's mouth, such as inFIG. 7, affixed to the teeth of the mandible 750. In this placement ofthe device, tongue 720 can access touch sensor device 650, andcompression sensor device 620 can be manipulated by the tongue 720,lips, other parts of the mouth and/or by other means. And the actions ofone or more output devices 120 can be perceived by the user and/orothers. In regular operation of the device, tongue 720 can stay in afairly relaxed position along the mandible and can stay clear ofblocking most regular mouth function.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of the general method for communicating 801used by the some embodiments of the invention, comprised of three steps:step one—generating stimulus to a tongue of a user to communicate a userinterface to the user 810; step two—detecting analog input from anenvironment of the tongue of the user 820; and step three—interpretingthe analog input from the environment as one or more user commands 830.

In step one, generating a stimulus to a tongue of a user to communicatea user interface to the user 810, some of the user interface, the systemby which the user interacts with the device, is communicated to the uservia one or more output devices 120. For example, without limitation, oneor more points of stimulus (perhaps each with a distinct pattern orsignature of stimulation) might be generated by electrical stimulatordevice 210 to the tongue of the user, representing information and/ordistinct options and/or choices of operating system 140 and/or one ormore applications 145 to be perceived by the user. In other embodiments,without limitation, the stimulus of step one might involve one or morevarious patterns, sequences, loops, haptic signatures, intensities,orientations, locations, apparent locations, stereo locations,verbosities, speeds, scales, tones, and the like and/or can be used tocommunicate information to the user, including, but not limited to,information about the state of one or more processors 110, workingmemory 135, operating system 140, one or more applications 145, externaldevices, and the like.

In step two, detecting analog input from an environment of the tongue ofthe user 820, analog input, states and/or activity in the mouthenvironment can be received and/or detected by one or more input devices115 and/or can be stored in working memory 135 and/or storage device 125and/or device 100.

In step three, interpreting the analog input from the environment as oneor more user commands 830, the analog input detected and/or stored instep two can be interpreted by one or more processors 110 and/oroperating system and/or one or more applications 145 as one or more usercommands, instructions that can be converted by device 100 to theappropriate operating system 140 function and/or functions. For example,without limitation, fattening and/or flattening of the user's tongue,detected by compression sensor device 221, might be interpreted as auser command to select, and/or cycle through choices or options ofoperating system 140, and/or one or more applications 145.

In some embodiments of the invention, the wearer of the device can usethe device to communicate to one or more external devices, including,but not limited to, communicating commands and data with other devices,and communicating input and/or about input detected by one or more inputdevices 115. Merely by way of example, device 100 could be used toanalyze accelerometer and/or gyroscopic and/or audio data aboutvocalizations (or sub-vocalizations) and tongue position to compare orpredict text of speech.

FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic drawing of an example computer networkinfrastructure. Device 910 may be implemented using one or morecomponents as described in FIG. 1, and/or other figures, and/or inprevious paragraphs. In network 900, device 910 communicates using acommunication link 920 (e.g., a wired or wireless connection,implemented by communications subsystem 130) with one or more externalor remote devices 930 (which can be, without limitation, in variousproximity to device 910, for example in the same mouth, or across adistance of miles to a communications tower). Communication link 920 maybe one way (in either direction) or two way (for example, device 910could receive a transmission from, transmit to, or receive from andtransmit to one or more remote devices 930). Remote device 930 may beany type of device that can receive and/or transmit data. Device 910 canact as a hub or spoke of the network. Remote device 930 might act as ahub or spoke of the network. One more more remote devices 930 might havecommunication 920 with device 910, and/or other communication betweenremote devices 930. Network communication is therefore possible. Merelyby way of example, device 100 could be used to send data detected bytouch sensor device 650 as mouse-type data to one or more remote devices930, such a laptop computer, in order to control its mouse and/orcursor. Merely by way of example, device 100 could be used to receiveand compare data detected by pressure sensor device 250 with datacommunicated 920 from one or more remote devices 930, such a laptopcomputer with a microphone and a wireless card, in order to compareand/or clarify vocalized sounds.

The methods, systems, and devices discussed above are examples. Variousembodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures orcomponents as appropriate. For instance, in alternative configurations,the methods described may be performed in an order different from thatdescribed, and/or various stages may be added, omitted, and/or combined.Also, features described with respect to certain embodiments may becombined in various other embodiments. Different aspects and elements ofthe embodiments may be combined in a similar manner. Also, technologyevolves and, thus, many of the elements are examples that do not limitthe scope of the disclosure to those specific examples.

Specific details are given in the description to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments. However, embodiments may be practicedwithout these specific details. For example, well-known circuits,processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques have been shownwithout unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.This description provides example embodiments only, and is not intendedto limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention.Rather, the preceding description of the embodiments will provide thoseskilled in the art with an enabling description for implementingembodiments of the invention. Various changes may be made in thefunction and arrangement of elements without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

Also, some embodiments were described as processes depicted as flowdiagrams or block diagrams. Although each may describe the operations asa sequential process, many of the operations can be performed inparallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations maybe rearranged. A process may have additional steps not included in thefigure. Furthermore, embodiments of the methods may be implemented byhardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardwaredescription languages, or any combination thereof. When implemented insoftware, firmware, middleware, or microcode, the program code or codesegments to perform the associated tasks may be stored in acomputer-readable medium such as a storage medium. Processors mayperform the associated tasks.

Having described several embodiments, various modifications, alternativeconstructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from thespirit of the disclosure. For example, the above elements may merely bea component of a larger system, wherein other rules may take precedenceover or otherwise modify the application of the invention. Also, anumber of steps may be undertaken before, during, or after the aboveelements are considered. Accordingly, the above description does notlimit the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a housing anchored in amouth of an animal and resistant to damage from bodily fluids andpressure, wherein the housing comprises: an input device sensing aninput from a user; a processor communicatively coupled with the inputdevice and configured to process input from the input device; an outputdevice communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the outputdevice communicates a user interface to the user by applying a stimulusto the mouth; a memory storage device communicatively coupled to theprocessor, wherein the memory storage device stores and recalls data; acommunication subsystem coupled to the processor, wherein thecommunication subsystem communicates with a remote device placed outsidethe mouth; and a power device powering the input device, the processor,the output device, the memory storage device, or the communicationsubsystem.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is aretainer.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input devicecomprises an analog sensor, a touchpad, a microphone, a pushbutton, agyroscope, an accelerometer, a movement tracking sensor, a lightemitting diode (LED) tracking device, a photo-diode tracking device, apressure sensor, a piezoelectric device, an air pressure sensor, aninput switch, a slider, a bite pressure sensor, an optical touch device,a rotation sensor, a light sensor, on/off switch, or orientation sensor.4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises atemperature sensor, an olfaction sensor, a gas flow monitor, a chemicalidentification device, or a material sensor.
 5. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the input device comprises a compression sensor, wherein thecompression sensor, by detecting compression or expansion of a portionof the housing, senses flattening of the tongue, fattening of thetongue, pressing an end of the housing, or pulling the end of thehousing.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output devicecomprises an electrical stimulator, a light emitter, a vibrator, aphysical matter release device, or a mechanical wave generator.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface, by way of thestimulus, presents options, choices, information about a state of theprocessor, information about a state of the storage device, informationabout an operating system, information about an application, orinformation about the remote device.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the stimulus represents the user interface by way of a patternof stimulation, a signature of stimulation, a sequence of stimulation, aloop of stimulation, intensity of stimulation, orientation ofstimulation, location of stimulation, apparent location of stimulation,stereo location of stimulation, verbosity of stimulation, speed ofstimulation, scale of stimulation, or tone of stimulation.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication subsystem comprises awired network communications device, a wireless network communicationsdevice, an infrared communication device, an optical communicationsdevice, a wireless communication device, a wireless communicationchipset, a Bluetooth® device, a radio frequency identification (RFID)device, an active RFID device, a passive RFID device, a battery-assistedRFID device, an 802.11 device, a Wi-Fi® device, a WiMAX® device, acellular communication facility, or an electromagnetic field (EMF)transmitter/receiver device.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising the remote device, wherein the remote device comprises awheelchair, a computer, a text-to-speech device, a head-mounted display,a wrist-mounted display, a pacemaker, an insulin pump, a mobile device,a network device, a wireless device, or a home automation device. 11.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power device comprises a battery,a power generator, a power management device, a connection to a secondpower device residing external to the housing, a power transfer devicetransferring power from the second power device, a power generatorgenerating power by way of interaction with chemicals internal to thehousing, a power generator generating power by way of interaction withchemicals external to the housing, a power generator generating power byway of interaction with chemicals in a bloodstream of the user, a powergenerator generating power by way of interaction with pressure in thebloodstream, a power generator generating power by way of functioning oforganisms, a genetically-engineered biofuel device, a biofuel organismthat generates power from oxygen and glucose in the bloodstream, a powergenerator generating power by way of temperature differences, a powergenerator generating power by way of movement, a power generatorgenerating power by way of wireless energy transfer, a power generatorgenerating power by way of compression of the housing, or a powergenerator generating power by way of expansion of the housing.
 12. Amethod comprising: anchoring a housing in a mouth of an animal, whereinthe housing is resistant to damage from bodily fluids and pressure;sensing, by an input device of the housing, an input from a user;processing, by a processor of the housing and communicatively coupledwith the input device, input from the input device; communicating, by anoutput device of the housing and communicatively coupled to theprocessor, a user interface to the user by applying a stimulus to themouth; storing and recalling, by a memory storage device of the housingand communicatively coupled to the processor, data; communicating, by acommunication subsystem of the housing and communicatively coupled tothe processor, with a remote device placed outside the mouth; andpowering, by a power device of the housing, the input device, theprocessor, the output device, the memory storage device, or thecommunication subsystem.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the housingis a retainer.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the input devicecomprises an analog sensor, a touchpad, a microphone, a pushbutton, agyroscope, an accelerometer, a movement tracking sensor, a lightemitting diode (LED) tracking device, a photo-diode tracking device, apressure sensor, a piezoelectric device, an air pressure sensor, aninput switch, a slider, a bite pressure sensor, an optical touch device,a rotation sensor, a light sensor, on/off switch, or orientation sensor.15. The method of claim 12, wherein the input device comprises atemperature sensor, an olfaction sensor, a gas flow monitor, a chemicalidentification device, or a material sensor.
 16. The method of claim 12,wherein the input device comprises a compression sensor, wherein thecompression sensor, by detecting compression or expansion of a portionof the housing, senses flattening of the tongue, fattening of thetongue, pressing an end of the housing, or pulling the end of thehousing.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the output device comprisesan electrical stimulator, a light emitter, a vibrator, a physical matterrelease device, or a mechanical wave generator.
 18. The method of claim12, wherein the user interface, by way of the stimulus, presentsoptions, choices, information about a state of the processor,information about a state of the storage device, information about anoperating system, information about an application, or information aboutthe remote device.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein the stimulusrepresents the user interface by way of a pattern of stimulation, asignature of stimulation, a sequence of stimulation, a loop ofstimulation, intensity of stimulation, orientation of stimulation,location of stimulation, apparent location of stimulation, stereolocation of stimulation, verbosity of stimulation, speed of stimulation,scale of stimulation, or tone of stimulation.
 20. The method of claim12, wherein the communication subsystem comprises a wired networkcommunications device, a wireless network communications device, aninfrared communication device, an optical communications device, awireless communication device, a wireless communication chipset, aBluetooth® device, a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, anactive RFID device, a passive RFID device, a battery-assisted RFIDdevice, an 802.11 device, a Wi-Fi® device, a WiMAX® device, a cellularcommunication facility, or an electromagnetic field (EMF)transmitter/receiver device.
 21. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising the remote device, wherein the remote device comprises awheelchair, a computer, a text-to-speech device, a head-mounted display,a wrist-mounted display, a pacemaker, an insulin pump, a mobile device,a network device, a wireless device, or a home automation device. 22.The method of claim 12, wherein the power device comprises a battery, apower generator, a power management device, a connection to a secondpower device residing external to the housing, a power transfer devicetransferring power from the second power device, a power generatorgenerating power by way of interaction with chemicals internal to thehousing, a power generator generating power by way of interaction withchemicals external to the housing, a power generator generating power byway of interaction with chemicals in a bloodstream of the user, a powergenerator generating power by way of interaction with pressure in thebloodstream, a power generator generating power by way of functioning oforganisms, a genetically-engineered biofuel device, a biofuel organismthat generates power from oxygen and glucose in the bloodstream, a powergenerator generating power by way of temperature differences, a powergenerator generating power by way of movement, a power generatorgenerating power by way of wireless energy transfer, a power generatorgenerating power by way of compression of the housing, or a powergenerator generating power by way of expansion of the housing.